Here's Why Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Are Leaving Instagram
It's official! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are leaving Instagram. According to the couple's Instagram post on March 30, 2020, from their @SussexRoyal Instagram handle, Markle and Harry won't be updating their official social media account anymore.
"Thank you to this community – for the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. You've been great!" the couple shared on Instagram. "Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another."
Harry and Markle posted the announcement one day before their official duties as senior members of the royal family end. According to People, a spokesperson for the couple said that Markle and Harry will also stop updating their official website, SussexRoyal.com. Although they will be inactive, "both the Instagram account and website will remain in existence online for the foreseeable future," per the spokesperson.
People reports that the @SussexRoyal handle was created in April 2019 after Meghan deleted her personal account. The account was launched with a welcome message and a collection of some of the couple's favorite photos.
"Welcome to our official Instagram; we look forward to sharing the work that drives us, the causes we support, important announcements, and the opportunity to shine a light on key issues. We thank you for your support, and welcome you to @sussexroyal. – Harry & Meghan."
At the time of this writing, the post has garnered more than 1.3 million likes.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent move to America
Soon they'll be done with their royal duties, but what's next for the royal couple? According to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's spokesperson, they have very specific plans. They "will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organization," the spokesperson said (via People).
COVID-19 is also front of mind for the couple, particularly after Harry's father, Prince Charles tested positive for the coronavirus in March 2020. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would prefer that in the immediate weeks and months, the focus remains on the global response to COVID-19," said their spokesperson according to Page Six.
In March 2020, Markle and Prince Harry left where they were staying in Canada to move their family to the United States. According to People, the couple are holed up in a Los Angeles compound with their son Archie, staying out of the public eye due to the coronavirus crisis.
The family is where they want to be, a source told People. "Harry is looking straight ahead at his future with his family," another source said. "They will be spending time in California... He's not looking back."
Donald Trump tweets he won't pay for Harry and Meghan's Security in U.S.
On March 29, 2020, President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the US would not be picking up the bill for Harry and Meghan's security, according to Page Six. The estimated cost of their security is up to $1 million a year.
"I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom," President Trump tweeted. "It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!"
It didn't take long for the couple to set the record straight. They responded immediately through their spokesperson that they never expected or asked the US to pay for their security. "Privately funded security arrangements have been made," the couple's rep explained.
The couple and royal family agreed that Harry and Meghan do continue to require security even after they've stopped doing their royal duties, as reported by Elle. The agreement was further explained on their Sussex website when they unveiled their Spring 2020 transition plan. The website notes, "This is based on The Duke's public profile by virtue of being born into The Royal Family, his military service, the Duchess' own independent profile, and the shared threat and risk level documented specifically over the last few years."